LONDON: FIFA have more options available than just organising a re-vote to decide new 2022 World Cup hosts if allegations are proved that Qatar’s winning bid to stage the finals was corrupt, said FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne.
The Frenchman, the only person to formally declare his candidacy to stand in next year’s elections – almost certainly against incumbent Sepp Blatter – told Reuters that it was far from a foregone conclusion that, if and when FIFA had to decide on a change, there would be a simple re-vote. “It is too simplistic just to say there should be a re-vote. Would Qatar be allowed to re-submit a bid if these allegations are proved?… Is an athlete allowed to run again if he is guilty of doping?”
There has been widespread speculation that if the latest allegations against Qatar are proven soccer’s governing body FIFA will order a re-vote.
But Champagne, who worked at FIFA for 11 years before leaving in 2010 and could possibly return as president next year, said it was far too early to make such an assumption.
‘If the allegations are proved, does FIFA disqualify Qatar and award the prize to the ‘silver-medallist’? Or does FIFA just throw it all open to everyone who submitted bids for both the 2018 and 2022 finals and any new candidate who wants to bid? ‘I am in favour of taking the World Cup to places it has never been before, but the process has to be absolutely open and honest. Everything needs to be on the table. We need to know about what has happened here. We cannot go into the World Cup in 2022 under these conditions.’ (Reuters)